ECU Confirms Meeting With Basketball Coach Bill Herrion

(Feb. 22, 2005)
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East Carolina University has confirmed that director of athletics Terry Holland has asked head men's basketball coach Bill Herrion to relinquish his position at the conclusion of the current season in order to accept another position within the athletics department.

Prior to ECU's contest against Southern Miss Wednesday at Minges Coliseum, Herrion has compiled an overall record of 69-96 (.418), which includes marks of 10-18 (1999-2000), 14-14 (2000-01), 12-18 (2001-02), 12-15 (2002-03), 13-14 (2003-04) and an 8-17 ledger so far this season.

In addition, the Pirates have also recorded a 16-45 (.262) Conference USA regular-season record.

"Nick Floyd (ECU Senior Associate Athletics Director) and I met with Coach Herrion Tuesday morning and asked him to relinquish the head basketball coaching position at the end of this season to work with a major fund raising initiative for ECU Athletics," Holland said. "As you can imagine, it was a very emotional meeting for all concerned and we asked Coach Herrion to take some time before responding."

Holland also pointed out that any modifications in the terms of Herrion's employment contract would require the approval of the Chancellor and the University's Board of Trustees.

Prior to heading the Pirates' basketball program in the spring of 1999, Herrion enjoyed outstanding success during his eight years at Drexel. His record of 167-71 at the Philadelphia school was among the best nationally among active NCAA Division I head coaches (by percentage). In conference play - the America East Conference, formerly the North Atlantic Conference - Herrion guided the Drexel Dragons to an eight-year mark of 121-32 (.791).

Herrion earned conference coach-of-the-year honors four times (1994-1996, 1999) and led the Dragons to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 seasons. Herrion's 1996 Dragon team, which finished 27-4, claimed the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating Memphis in the first round of the West Regional at Albuquerque, N.M. Herrion also led Drexel to the school's first berth in the National Invitation Tournament, reaching that post-season event in 1996-97 when the Dragons finished with a 22-9 record.

"The timing of the meeting was intended to eliminate the game-to-game pressure that we felt was a negative for everyone involved," Holland added. "Any further comments will have to come from Coach Herrion until the season is over."